US Amid pandemic, hospitals need medical safety gear. Here's how you can help

Trump and Cuomo accuse each other of not doing enough to combat coronavirus: ‘Do something!’

President Trump and Gov. Cuomo turned the coronavirus crisis into a political punching bag Monday, accusing each other of not doing enough to combat the fast-spreading pandemic. After wrapping up a conference call with the nation’s 50 governors, Trump said the talk went “very well” but added one caveat. “Cuomo of New York has to ‘do more,’” Trump tweeted without elaborating. Cuomo was quick to punch back. “I have to do more? No — YOU have to do something! You’re supposed to be the president,” the governor posted in response.

Here ’ s help on ways to help . Download PDF Copy. Reviewed by Emily Henderson If you can 't reach a hospital official or foundation, ask health care workers you know what they need . Chidester said many hospitals and first responders are looking for medical -grade masks, gloves and face shields.

Here ’ s what we are asking: We need you to lead by example and to motivate your fans to comply We need you to donate what you have to your local hospitals and share your donation Similarly, if you own or partner with a consumer goods production company, please think about ways you can help .

Increasingly desperate pleas from healthcare workers and public authorities for donations of face masks and other protective gear are an unsettling sign of just how unprepared American hospitals are for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Alison Cooke, assistant chief of hospital medicine for Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco, warned recently that her institution had less than a week's supply of medical masks for doctors and nurses. "If you have any masks or safety goggles at home, please consider giving them to your nurse and doctor neighbors," she wrote on the neighborhood social networking site Nextdoor.

Trump triggers Defense Production Act in coronavirus fight

President Trump said he will trigger emergency war powers to accelerate the production of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Trump told Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) he would use the Defense Production Act in a phone call this morning, according to Schumer's office. Trump at a news conference after the Schumer call said he was putting the act to use. DEVELOPING

How You Can Get Help . MOORESVILLE, N.C. — While hospitals nationwide face shortages of essential items during the coronavirus pandemic , Lowe’ s is stepping in to help . The company is donating million in essential protective products for medical professionals.

'I needed someone urgently that could speak Mandarin and English as the patients were in isolation and none of them could speak English. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook.

Bing COVID-19 tracker: Latest numbers by country and state

On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged nonessential medical offices and other businesses to donate their protective gear to hospitals. And former federal health official Andy Slavitt tweeted a request to dentists, painters, contractors and plastic surgeons to give "all you have" in the way of masks, gloves or thermometers to local hospitals.

As supplies of critical protective gear dwindle, nurses and doctors are wiping down and reusing supplies they'd normally toss after one use. On social media, health workers beg for supplies under the hashtag #GetMePPE, using the medical profession's abbreviation for "personal protective equipment."

The world is battling the COVID-19 outbreak which started in the city of Wuhan, China, and has spread around the globe killing thousands. The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on March 11.

Let people die during the coronavirus crisis to save the economy? That's crazy

Are we nuts? Texas official suggests sacrificing seniors and a county medical director would wait to fill hospitals with coronavirus patients first.Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests letting people over 70 die and the Maricopa County medical director wouldn’t close public spaces until hospitals are crowded with coronavirus patients.

“The American people need an outcome and they need it tomorrow.” Start the day smarter. They may also be worried about their ability to stay in session as the pandemic coursed through the U.S Here ' s what we know about the main sticking points: Bailouts for businesses. Both sides seem to

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — While hospitals nationwide face shortages of essential items during the coronavirus pandemic , Lowe’ s is stepping in to The company is donating million in essential protective products for medical professionals. It’ s part of a million initiative to help support the

(Pictured) A woman walks her dog under a "don't panic" sign hanging at the entrance of a food market that was shut down in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 23.

Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital on March 24, in London, England. British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced strict lockdown measures urging people to stay at home and only leave the house for basic food shopping, exercise once a day and essential travel to and from work.

Security personnel wearing facemasks patrol on the streets in Shaheen Bagh area after removing demonstrators continuously protesting against a new citizenship law, while the government imposed a lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in New Delhi on March 24.

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The Ruby Princess Cruise Ship is seen off the coast of Sydney on March 24, in Sydney, Australia. A passenger of the Ruby Princess who tested positive to COVID-19 has died in hospital this morning. There have been 133 cases of COVID-19 connected to the Ruby Princess.

People wearing facemasks buy supplies at a crowded vegetable market at Piliyandala on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo on March 24, as the authorities briefly lifted a curfew to allow residents to stock up on essentials amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

Community organizer Henry Liu maintains social distance while greeting a resident as InterIm Community Development Association delivers free food to seniors in the Chinatown-International District during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Seattle, Washington, March 23.

David Vazquez, a street performer dressed as the Joker, waits in hopes of pedestrians who will pay to take pictures with him in Mexico City, March 23. Vazquez, who also worked as a trainer in a gym until it shut down today, said business for street performers has plummeted, with the few clients still stopping opting to take their pictures from a distance or posing beside him awkwardly, amid the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus. "We have to pay rent, light, gas, telephone," said Vazquez. "Where will we get that money? We all want to work."

A child walks next to members of the "Psalm 100" evangelical church, dressed as angels and holding placards making reference to coronavirus (COVID-19) are seen during a demonstration at the Paso del Norte international border bridge as taken from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March 23.

Coronavirus: New tech being used to fight pandemic

As nations around the world scramble to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, straining medical resources and overburdening doctors, governments are turning to technology to help fight the pandemic.As nations around the world scramble to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, straining medical resources and overburdening doctors, governments are turning to technology to help fight back the outbreak.

Medical school hopefuls can take steps to move forward amid school closures and other uncertainties. Although there are still many unknowns, the pandemic will affect the state of medical school admissions. Need a guide through the murky medical school admissions process?

Media captionHannah Fry needs your smartphone and your help to run the project. That may sound like an odd thing to want to do but, if successful, the BBC Pandemic could help save lives Planning for another pandemic is the best defence we have until vaccine technology manages to catch up.

Employees eating during lunch break at an auto plant of Dongfeng Honda on March 23 in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. People in central China, where COVID-19 was first detected, are now allowed to go back to work and public transport has restarted, as some normality slowly returns after a two-month lockdown.

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Reflecting the current coronavirus crisis, covid-free cupcakes with icing masks make an appearance at the Cheesecake House and Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand on March 23.

Members of Joint Task Force 2, composed of soldiers and airmen from the New York Army and Air National Guard, arrive to sanitize and disinfect the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue, in New Rochelle, New York, on March 23.

Hockey manufacturer Bauer is pivoting from on-ice equipment to producing face shields for medical workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Protection that allows athletes to give everything for their team is our heritage. Right now, we're all on the same team. We're repurposing our facilities to make face shields so that medical professionals battling COVID-19 can safely continue to help those most vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/pBiZuUWdVl — BAUERProtection that allows athletes to give everything for their team is our heritage.

The NRL has suspended the rest of the season as the coronavirus pandemic continues to shutdown businesses and services across Australia. 'We are in battle- gear ready to go. This is an extraordinary scenario for rugby league and I will do whatever I need to do.'

Click here to turn on notifications. The president also approved California’ s activation of the National Guard to help with distribution of supplies and Gavin Newsom asked President Trump to deploy the mammoth hospital ship to the region amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic .

A woman wearing a face mask arrives at the South Municipal cemetery in Madrid, on March 23, to attend the burial of a man who died of the new coronavirus. The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged to 2,182 after 462 people died within 24 hours, the health ministry said.

People travel in a crowded bus to return to their cities and villages before the start of the lockdown by West Bengal state government to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease, in Kolkata, India on March 23.

Times Square stands mostly empty as as much of the city is void of cars and pedestrians over fears of spreading the coronavirus on March 22 in New York City.

Hospitals tell doctors they'll be fired if they speak out about lack of gear

Hospitals are threatening to fire health-care workers who publicize their working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic -- and have in some cases followed through. Ming Lin, an emergency room physician in Washington state, said he was told Friday he was out of a job because he’d given an interview to a newspaper about a Facebook post detailing what he believed to be inadequate protective equipment and testing. In Chicago, a nurse was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison covers his mouth during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on March 23, in Canberra, Australia. Parliament is sitting as scheduled but with restrictions in place to limit the number of people in chamber to observe social distancing rules in place due to COVID-19. Morrison announced late on Sunday that bars, clubs, cinemas, gyms and restaurants, along with other venues, would be closed.

The relative of an inmate cries outside La Modelo jail in Bogota, Colombia on March 22. Violence broke out in the prison out of inmates' fears that authorities are not doing enough to prevent coronavirus inside overcrowded prisons.

Residents clap and bang utensils from their balconies March 22 to cheer for emergency personnel and sanitation workers who are on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus in Mumbai, India.

Nurses across US to protest over 'lack of preparedness'

"Protecting our patients is our highest priority, but it becomes much harder when we don't have the safe protections," one nurse said.The National Nurses Union, which represents 10,000 registered nurses at 19 hospitals managed by HCA Healthcare in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Texas, is demanding that the hospital chain provide optimal personal protective equipment (PPE) for nurses and other staff.

Pastor Billy Jones leads a drive-in church service to churchgoers in their cars in the car park of Dunseverick Baptist Church following government advice to avoid all non-essential contact on March 22 in Bushmills, Northern Ireland.

The MSC Fantasia cruise ship, coming from Brazil with 1,338 passengers, of which 27 are Portuguese citizens, is docked in the Cruise Terminal from the Miradouro das Portas do Sol on March 22 in Lisbon, Portugal. Portuguese passengers were scheduled to disembark and the others will get off the ship after being screened.

A yard sign shows support for nurses and doctors on March 22 in Nolensville, Tenn. Several residents in the neighborhood put up signs thanking medical personnel for their work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Health workers spray disinfectant on a motorist March 22 in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus outbreak in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Tech community sets up telehealth service directory in response to White House’s call

Amazon Web Services and two industry groups have created an online telehealth tech directory that could help health care providers cope with the coronavirus pandemic.TechHealthDirectory.com was launched today by the Consumer Technology Association and the American Telemedicine Association, in response to a challenge issued by the White House’s chief technology officer, Michael Kratsios. Telehealth resources are getting used more widely in the wake of the Trump administration’s moves to expand coverage for medical services that don’t require a visit to overstressed hospitals or clinics.

A view of deserted the Bandra-Worli sea link over the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, India on March 22. India is observing a 14-hour "people's curfew" called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in order to stem the rising coronavirus caseload in the country of 1.3 billion.

Officials are releasing personal protective equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile, and manufacturers like Honeywell and 3M have boosted production of critical medical supplies.

But for now, that's not enough. So charities, corporations and ordinary Americans are stepping up, donating N95 masks, as well as hospital gowns, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.

If you want to help, here are some answers to questions you might have.

Q: Why is there such a shortage of face masks and other protective gear?

Fear of COVID-19 is generating demand that far outstrips supply. Because no one had immunity to the novel coronavirus when it broke out, doctors and nurses have exercised caution by wearing protective gear when seeing almost any patient with respiratory symptoms or a fevermost of whom don't have COVID-19.

At the same time, panic-buying of N95 face masks and other gear has reduced available supplies. Some people have even stolen surgical masks and hand sanitizer from clinics. Now, with more than 41,000 confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. as of Monday afternoon and the number rising sharply, public health officials fear hospitals will soon be overwhelmed with patients, further boosting demand for protective gear.

The supply chain for medical equipment relies heavily on factories overseas — mostly in China and Taiwanincreasingly commandeered by governments for domestic use. And shortages of the fabric and other raw materials used to make masks are beginning to be a problem. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued bleak guidance for hospitals facing shortages, including using homemade masks. The Deaconess Health System in Indiana recently asked the public to sew and donate masks that meet CDC protocols, as did Providence hospitals in Washington state.

Q: What can I do to help?

Whether you want to donate supplies you have at home or at your company, check a recently launched website, Get Us PPE, which lists numerous hospitals in need of protective gear in at least 41 states and gives specific instructions, including drop-off points, for donating to each one.

If you don't find your local hospital on that website, try contacting the hospital's supply manager to see what they need most. In times like these, however, it may be difficult to reach overworked hospital staff. If your local hospital is a nonprofit or county-run, check to see if it has a foundation or charity arm that may be organizing donations.

In California's Santa Clara County, the charitable foundation for the county's vast public safety-net hospital system — made up of three hospitals and 11 clinicslaunched a campaign via social media and on its website that has garnered tens of thousands of masks, gloves and gowns, as well as thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer, said Chris Wilder, the Valley Medical Center Foundation's CEO.

"It's been very heartening. The generosity has been very strong," said Wilder, who is now soliciting electro-mechanical equipment such as oxygen concentrators and ventilators.

If you can't reach a hospital official or foundation, ask healthcare workers you know what they need. Cyrus Farivar, an Oakland, Calif.-based reporter for NBC News, gathered donations from his neighbors to deliver to a Kaiser Permanente nurse.

Chidester says many hospitals and first responders are looking for medical-grade masks, gloves and face shields. And, she said, don't forget blood donations, which are down as shelter-in-place orders proliferate. Check the American Red Cross website for donation sites in your area.

What hospitals don't need are: extremely small quantities, unpackaged, used or expired supplies. If all you have are two loose N95 masks, age unknown, that you found in your basement workshop, don't bother.

Q: What help has arrived so far?

The Santa Barbara-based humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief has distributed tens of thousands of face masks and other personal protective equipment to more than 1,000 safety-net health providers, aided by $5.5 million in donations from the Clorox Co. Foundation and Verizon.

During wildfires that ravaged Australia in late 2019 and earlier this year, the charity worked with a factory in China to manufacture the masks and amassed 1.5 million of them. Now, it is trying to get more. "We thought that was a lot," said Tony Morain, a Direct Relief spokesperson. "Little did we know." Direct Relief is now accepting donations of protective gear.

In California, political consultant Kate Catherall set up a Google Doc to gather supplies for bulk donations to hospitals.

Among other donations, IBM contributed 15,000 masks to Santa Clara County's public hospitals, Wilder said. Over the weekend, Apple pledged to donate millions of masks to hospitals, and Pacific Gas & Electric said it would donate 950,000 masks. Nationally, some dentists who are closing their offices have dropped off boxes of masks and gloves at local hospitals.

Q: Should I donate cash to crowdsourced or other donor campaigns I'm seeing online?

Be cautious. Although there are some legitimate campaigns organized by well-meaning people on crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, potential scams await as well.

Barbara Feder Ostrov writes for Kaiser Health News (KHN), a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Tech community sets up telehealth service directory in response to White House’s call .
Amazon Web Services and two industry groups have created an online telehealth tech directory that could help health care providers cope with the coronavirus pandemic.TechHealthDirectory.com was launched today by the Consumer Technology Association and the American Telemedicine Association, in response to a challenge issued by the White House’s chief technology officer, Michael Kratsios. Telehealth resources are getting used more widely in the wake of the Trump administration’s moves to expand coverage for medical services that don’t require a visit to overstressed hospitals or clinics.

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